Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-04-16


Already the MeMorrans' place began TO
look like farm; there were always fires eat
ing into the bush, and the small barn was
getting too small.
The Ducharmes were favorites with their
neighbors Octave always did most of the
talking: and, as Francois was quick tenn
pered, he had sometimes to step forward and
take the lead in a conversation that would
have surely ended in blows. 1t was seldom
that this ever happened, as the general say
ing was, flight one Duchar1ne, fight two"
and so Francois hot words usually passed I'M
noticed But Octave was SO good tempered
that the balance was kept even.
The brothers seemed so entirely as
one that the people were not surprised when
they learned in after years that they had
both fallen in love with the same girl. 1t
semed quite natural; and then, ''you couldn't
blame them, for every one was in love with
Keila McMorran.n
There was some things about it, though,
that nobody could understand.
Zone of them didn't know the other was in
love with her."
"Well, used to see them down there
| together, and they'd walk off home like two
| lambs"
''That couldn't last you know"
mo, and it didn't lastn
This was the general drift of the remarks
| the fieighbors made when they commenced
to talk on the subject, 1t was an ever re-
curing topic of conversation, and never was
settled to the satisfaction of every one, al
though some had decided for themselves.
However these talks commenced. they
always ended in one way. There would be
| pause, then the words would come slowly, as
| if the speakers were dreaming Of form they
| could not forget
| 'Strongl | believe he could lift an OK
"Yes; and he was the best chopper on the
river
| "And what a man on the drive"
"And kind heartedl'
"Humphy"
"Poor Octavei"
| It was bright August morning. and Fran
co.'s was sitting at his door smoking. He was
| watching a squirrel that was seated at the
root of tree, twirling something between his
| front feet, when small, tattered boy, with
wide, frightened eyes that turned TO all sides
| as if he expected to be pounced on by some
hidden enemy, came toward him from the
bush. Francois turned and spoke to him.
| He answered:
'I-I-want Octave"
"Gone away"
"But must see Octave"
Cant
"But l must"
Cant; gone away"
as he going to come back"
Tonight
"But l must see him before tonight,
have to tel him souething."
Cant: home tonight Tell me-
1t was the youngest of the McMorran boys
| Tim He could not understand Francois's
French, and Francois could speak but little
English
II can't tell you VIII you tell OctaveY"
yes"
swell, when was fishing last night, down
by the bank. two fellows came and talked
near where was, and heard them, and one
of the Phelan boys IS going. to shoot Octave
tonight"
ITO shoot Octave!" Froncois jumped to his
feet NWhyf'
Because our Keila won't marry him, and
he thinks she's going to marry Octave
%Whenl"
II don't know"
40 shoot Octave-when~
Tonight, down at the old road"
will you tell Octave17
"No!"-in a tone that set Tins teeth
chattering-'Y Yes, yes yes; go home" The
small boy ran away, but was soon stealing
back. "Will-will-you tell Octavegn
"Yes: go home
Francois thought a long time, and
then began to throw chips at the SPUR
rel that was hanging head downward half
way up the tree
It WAS twilight; and down where the path
from the Ducharmes' Joined the old road a
figure crouching in the bushes held q gun,
steadied in the low crotch of a shrub and
pointed right across his path. His jaws
were tightly locked, and whenever he CHANGED
to open them his teeth Chartered as if the
warm evening breeze that just stirred the
bushes was a blast from the north Every
now and then his whole body shook convul-
sively and the gun ratified in the forked
branch. He was listening for step in the
path Now be thought he heard it, and
drew himself together with great effort; but
it was some other sound in the woods
He noticed nothing stirring behind him:
and when a collie, with an angry growl,
jumped out into the path and ran away,
with its tail between its legs, the cold
sweat burst out on his face and hands
But now he could make no mistake-there
was some one coming, and be huddled over
the gun The twigs were cracking in the still
air, and he thought be could hear the bushes
sway; but before he could be sure there was
grip on his neck like vice and his hands
left the gun TO grasp pair of iron wrists.
He turnad slowly over on the ground, and
figure knelt on his chest, choking him until
his eyes glaraS whitley in the darkness and
his tongue shot out between his teeth. and
held him among the little ferns and moses so
tightly that he could not even have stirred
them with his breath. And now the twigs
commenced to break, the rustic of leaves
grew louder, and some one passed with long,
swinging strides They could hear him
breathe, and it seemed like century before
the air was quiet again Then the hands re
laxed and an arm reached for the gun. The
figure rose slowly, but the other did not stir
He drew in his tongue, grasped his throat with
his handx and continued glaring with white,
distended eyes into the face of the form above
him. The hands had grasped the gun and had
torn the stock from the barrel and thrown each
in different direction. Then the foot stirred
the man who was struggling for breath on
the ground He turned over slowly and lay
still for moment; then he rose on his hands
and knees and crawled, like wounded snake,
into the low, uncertain cedar shadows.
Watching for while where the darkness had
swallowed up that cringing form, parting the
bushes and standing on the path, where the
first trembling star of evening was shining,
Francois DuchaIne stepped homeward to the
Baskatonge
Octave had walked steadily until be came
to where the path turned along the lake side.
There was thin screen of bushes between
the path and the shore, but where the ground
rose suddenly the point that jutted into the
water was bare of trees, save maple or two.
As he approached this point the sound of
singing reached his ears, and be almost knelt
as be stretched himself at full length to listen.
From WHARF fha Sfor-sa limo Shnf,a ike silver